then, she must remain perfectly cool.

At five o'clock in the afternoon she managed to slip out of the house
and hasten to the chemist's shop, where a disappointment awaited her.

"I am extremely sorry, mademoiselle," the blond assistant made apology,
"but the report has not yet come in. I am afraid now we shall not get
it before to-morrow."

CHAPTER XXVI

Twenty-four hours after this Esther slammed down the lid of her steamer
trunk and sat upon it. If her breath came quickly it was less from her
exertions than from the stinging memory of her curt dismissal half an
hour agone. Whenever her thoughts recurred to it her eyes flashed and
her lips tightened into a thin line. It was the second time since she
had entered this house that she had been extremely angry, although
perhaps in the present instance it might be foolish of her to be so
sensitive. She knew she ought to consider the source of the affront,
yet all she could think of was the fact that never before had she been
treated with such scant courtesy.

The funeral was over. The family, including the doctor, the old butler
and herself, as well as Captain Holliday, had followed the body to its
interment in the British Cemetery, and had then returned to the house
for a late lunch. Immediately after this Miss Clifford, in the
presence of Lady Clifford, had taken her hand very simply and said,
"Thank goodness, my dear, you don't have to leave us at once. I am
afraid now my poor nephew is going to want looking after, and it will
be such a comfort having you." This had touched and pleased Esther,
who had nodded understandingly, more than glad to be of use. She
recalled later that Lady Clifford had not spoken, but at the time she
had not thought of it. As far as Esther was concerned, it was in no
way a question of money, she would have been delighted to remain as a
friend as long as the family needed her. She felt decidedly troubled
about Roger. He still refused to give up, but his temperature rose
regularly each afternoon towards nightfall--not very high, yet high
enough to cause alarm. He undoubtedly had "walking typhoid," which,
though apparently mild, had sometimes disastrous results. She wanted
to have a word with him about himself, but there was no opportunity.
He had disappeared directly after lunch, she suspected because he
resented the presence of Holliday. Thinking she was sure to see him
later in the day, she busied herself in a vari